We have all been there. You walk into a room full of tech enthusiasts, the ambient noise is humming with intense architectural debates, and your so...
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Really enjoyed reading this, Konark! I could relate to the part about starting with just one conversation at an event. It's surprising how much confidence builds from those small interactions over time. Congrats on stepping out of your comfort zone and even getting on stage. Wishing you many more talks and great conversations ahead 👏
Thank you so much for you kind words Hemapriya. It really means a lot. I'm really happy that you found my story relatable.
Thank you so much for the wishes. We all need to move out of our comfort zone in order to get what we want. Some people realize it early some realize it late. Sure, someday I will do my first tech talk and then share my experience.
Hope to see you grow as you are an awesome writer. Your articles are well written, well thought-out and pretty easy to understand. Thank you for being so awesome and writing such amazing articles.
Really enjoyed reading this, Konark. It was cool seeing your journey from someone who struggled to start conversations to someone confidently hosting part of an event. That kind of growth doesn't happen overnight.
One thing your story reminded me of is my own experience. I've always admired people who could effortlessly make everyone laugh, and for a while I thought networking almost required that. But over time I realized people don't remember you only because you were funny, while of course it is a plus point, but they also remember you because you made them feel comfortable and had something genuine to say.
So for anyone reading this who thinks, "I'm not naturally humorous," don't let that stop you. Clear communication, genuine curiosity, and listening well are incredibly underrated skills. If you can communicate your thoughts honestly and make the other person feel heard, people will respect that just as much as a well-timed joke.
Ironically, I think confidence comes after enough conversations, not before them. Every interaction teaches you something, and eventually you stop worrying about saying the perfect thing.
Great read, and congratulations on how far you've come. Looking forward to reading the story of your first full tech talk. 😄
Thank you so much for your inspiring words. Of-course, growth doesn't happen overnights. For the past one year, I was considering it a failure of talking to just one person but rather I was deepening my roots to turn myself into a big and strong communicator. I'm still learning and looking forward for the next moment to step my foot on a new stage.
Yes, exactly as I was watching a video on networking it also shed the light on this but you mentioned it clearly. People will connect with you for who you are and how you made them feel. If I make someone uncomfortable that person will never comeback to me for a talk. Making everyone laugh is just my coping mechanism just like Ross from friends. I joke when I'm nervous as it helps me calms down better than the other person.
A perfect advice from a senior dev. Thank you so much for this advice Aryan. I have a simple rule for confidence and interactions. Just when traveling back home analyze your day what you said, what things you said didn't work, what things someone else said that might have hurt me, what things I need to learn after a quick analysis I got prepared for my next event. This is how I learned what to joke about in those events. For me, every laugh counts 😂.
Once I get invited to talk I'll share the experience. I need to learn and master a lot before reaching that stage. But I think I'm capable to speak I'll be nervous but I might be entertaining as well.
I'd push back on 'shine' as the goal. the introverts who thrive in tech didn't match extrovert output - they filled gaps extroverts consistently skip: the written spec nobody finished, the post-mortem that never happened.
ok, answering "Localhost" when someone asks what stack you work on got me. The tip about giving speakers feedback is the most underrated one on the list, they're usually standing alone right after the talk while everyone heads for the snacks, so it's the easiest genuine conversation in the whole event.
Finally someone got my joke haha. Yes, and unlike everyone in the event they don't have an ulterior motive other than giving their best talk and since they are on the stage represents the experience they have and it's best to gain the most out of it.
:) Thanks for sharing!
Nice. It was really interesting and the tips where useful too. hope i can use them someday.
Honestly i live in Iran and we got no such thing as meetings here, at least nowhere near my city. My English is really good too but like there are literally no meetings to attend. one of my main dreams is to attend an actual meeting and talk with people who understand programming and my hobbies. nice job by the way i really loved how u improved and leveled up. i mean that is NOT easy. thumbs up.
I'm sure you will use the tips and attend and maybe present yourself on a stage someday. Dream big as dreams come true.
I hope you and your family are safe in Iran. Stay safe. You can try to attend online meetings try and look for them maybe then you might the exposure you need till you attend one in real life. I'm sure your dream will come true asap. You can talk to people in the comments or add them on their socials to talk more about programming.
Thank you for the wishes. Hope to see you grow and shine as a rainbow.
Thank u for u'r attention. this community has really been a comfort zone for me. thanks again
Your experience is quite interesting and very informative, to the tech introverts like me, and tbh, I'm such a humor person, but I'm not making use of it in proper way, cause I hardly interact with other tech people, all I have to say is that, for now, I don't engage myself in any tech events, cause I'm still learning more stacks, and at least you've gotten some experience in your career before you decide to start venturing yourself out to the event, all it's fine with you, and I learned a lot things from your experienced being shared, and I think the most easiest way to get to people at first impression, is to read their minds, and faces, then know how to put your speech with them, always looking forward to connecting with a great minds like you.
Here's my twitter x handle: Dii Tech Dev.
For now, I'm not on LinkedIn, cause my account got banned, and I couldn't reach their specific requirements for now, I'm still focused on my learning.
Thank you so much for your words. I'm just sharing my experiences that can be used as a stepping stone for others to learn from. You can go and attend an event and enjoy an event. The learning never stops just go and have fun. If I had waited to attend events after learning stack then I would never had gotten out. I use this analogy for tasks like these. If I wanna go for a ride but my condition is I'll only leave the house when all the traffic light turn green then I will never go for a ride. Go out have fun and learn that's all I can say.
You can't read everyone and if you analyze everyone you will loose the ability to enjoy the event. Rather than this just be yourself, as you will attract the people who are like minded like you and after attending one or two events you will know how to say and what to say, time and experiences teaches everything.
Huge thanks for your comment. Keep leveling up and showing the world what you're capable of! I followed you on twitter. All the best for all your future endeavors.
Thanks champ, my regards to you 🫂
I have heard all what you said
I have followed you back too
This resonates with me. I have always been far more comfortable imagining, creating and building than being on show. As a business owner, I've forced myself to handle meetings, training sessions, seminars and workshops, and even attended courses to improve my presentation skills. Despite all the training, it has never become something I naturally enjoy or feel completely comfortable doing but that's probably because I always fall back into my comfort zone. I expect the article is right, that confidence often comes from repeated exposure rather than waiting to feel ready.
I hope you get all you want. All the best for your future presentation skills. If you won't apply your knowledge you won't make any progress. Maybe, you can present in front of your friends and family and ask for constructive feedback and then present it to teammates or colleagues and give yourself a chance. Take it as a challenge, and give your best at it. As I feel Trying your best is far better than regretting past.
Great, encouraging article. Thank you! It's nice to read about others going through the same experience. Gives me hope that I can also participate and engage more at these events!
Thank you so much, L. Cordero. Everyone goes through some experiences the ability to turn my experience into a stepping stone for others is what I try to do. And I'm really glad you had similar experience as well.
Your potential is limitless, and I can't wait to see where your talent takes you next. All the best for your upcoming events. Rise and shine.😊
female introvert in tech world... double damage 😫
They are even better than us. I have attended more female talks and their stories are very inspiring. You also have the full potential to be the best at it.
Not double damage, double power. Look at @jess how she and ben created this platform and how awesome and inspiring she is.
All the best for all you future endeavors and I know you will do awesome. Keep rising and shining.